MSC cruises today announced its return to Malta after an absence of one year. The cruise liner company had dropped Malta from its itinerary because of a rise in fuel prices.

The company announced at a press conference aboard the newly-built MSC Preziosa, that it will start operating weekly Malta-to-Malta cruises later on this month. The MSC Preziosa today made its maiden voyage to Grand Harbour, however the weekly cruises will be operated by another vessel from the company’s fleet – the MSC Lirica – which is being brought to Malta by Hamilton Travel.

The seven-day cruises will leave Malta on Wednesdays and will visit Trapani, Civitavecchia, La Spezia, Marseille, Palma de Mallorca or Tunisia. The cruises will be operated from 30 April to 15 October.  

Speaking at the event, newly appointed Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis said that the cruise liner industry in Malta grew by 10% in the last three years. He announced that cruise liner passengers in the first three months of this year grew by over 40% when compared to the corresponding months of 2013.

“Cruise passengers are potential return tourists and they are the best PR Malta can get. They are vital for our economy,” he said, adding that the industry had generated €78 million in 2012.

Also speaking at the event, Transport Minister Joe Mizzi explained that Malta has a great potential to expand its maritime sector, even through the upcoming Maritime Hub project.

Valletta Cruise Port CEO John Portelli said that the cruise liner industry went through a rough patch globally but Malta held on to its successes. Berth capacity in a number of Mediterranean countries decreased but in Malta the opposite happened. He said that Valletta Cruise Port has signed of the first ever long-term agreements with MSC cruises.